Need Legal Help Now?

Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

In Albuquerque and Santa Fe, pedestrian accidents and fatalities are on the rise

At one point or another, everyone is a pedestrian. As the expense of driving and insuring a vehicle rise, more and more people choose to walk to their destinations. As the number of pedestrians increases, so do the number of pedestrian accidents. To see where the Albuquerque and Santa Fe regions ranks in terms of pedestrian collisions nationally, please go to this National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

Despite safety improvements, pedestrian accidents are common in Albuquerque and Santa Fe

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,nationally in 2012:

69% of pedestrians killed in 2012 were males;

73% pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas;

32% of all pedestrian fatalities occurred between 8:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.;

34% of pedestrians killed had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 g/dL or higher.

Pedestrian Laws in New Mexico

Both motorists and pedestrians can engage in behaviors that cause collisions. According to New Mexico state pedestrian law -

When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is in the crosswalk.

No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

Whenever a vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of another vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.

Get information on pedestrian crashes from the region's police departments

As soon as possible, an injured person should contact their insurance company to find out how medical treatment is covered under their insurance policy. Since insurance policies often have unique provisions to deal with pedestrian-accident injuries, it is important to review the policy and speak with the insurance adjuster to get clarification on coverage.

When a pedestrian accident results in a serious injury or a fatality, it is important to find an experienced pedestrian accident attorney

When an injury is serious or a death occurs, the next step is to find an experienced New Mexico pedestrian accident attorney to start the financial recovery process by launching an insurance claim. Major injury or wrongful death claims are complicated and can be hard to manage without legal help. Since personal injury lawyers offer a free initial consultation and work on a contingency basis, meaning that there are no up-front costs and all fees are paid when the claim is settled, there is no downside to speaking with a New Mexico personal injury lawyer right away, to get help for an injured pedestrian.